Chapter 345: Death Of The Republic
"Mister Dageer! You are back!"
A childish voice greeted Hell Squad as soon as they followed Gobi into the cave where the freedom fighters were assembling. Of course, after the First Battle Of Ryloth was over, they all returned to their homes and their families, but since they were needed once again, what better place to group up than their old hideout?
The kid who was calling the clone so excitedly was obviously Shouta, Gobi's daughter. She, like any child, was very quick to accept the clones when they first met. The stories they told about the war, albeit short and tunned down, were enough to entertain the Twi'lek children, and were a good distraction from the terrible weeks they faced after the 303rd fleet was destroyed, and before their annihilation.
It was difficult not to like the little one, and even Dageer couldn't help but smile at her. He knelt down to pat her head.
"How are you doing, Shouta? Taking care of your father and mother for us, as we asked? You didn't let them get in trouble, did you? Haha..."
If any other clones were watching them, they would have been shocked by how kindly Dageer was behaving. That was very unlike him.
"Uhum! They are very, very good! Yep!"
"Hahaha! That's great. Go say hi to the general and the others now. I have to talk with the adults. Go, go!"
The small Twi'lek giggled, and ran towards Ragout, who made her levitate upside down. Meanwhile, Hell Squad was busy greeting the freedom fighters they knew. Many had lost their lives during Syndulla's stupid attack, and others were trapped in Separatist controlled area, but there were still over two thousand of them there. Too few to take over Nabat using the orthodox way, but Hell Squad never planned to follow that route.
"Master Ragout, Dageer, it's good to see you again. Brain, Tech, Three-four, Metal, Cell, and Dab, the same."
One of the first to go see them was Shouta's mother, Yva. Using the usual Twi'lek greeting - putting two fingers in her forehead, then bowing - she smiled at them. They mimicked her unconsciously, having grown used to it.
Weird as it may sound, the freedom fighters were the closest thing to a family Hell Squad had after their own brothers. That was a bond created by months of fighting and dying side by side, and difficult to undo. The only one they didn't like - in fact, almost hated - was Syndulla.
The Twi'lek in question was leaning into a wall at the back of the cave, a dark but relieved expression on his face. News of him being punched by Dageer, or what the clone said, had yet to reach the ears of his people. He knew he had to be thankful to Ragout for that.
After a few more minutes, Ragout caught everyone's attention. Kids and civilians were sent back home, leaving only those who would really fight there.
"We are here because Hell Squad and I know better than any other Republic soldier what we have to do to free Ryloth. We've done it before, and we will do it again. But not alone. Freedom fighters, you fought with us before, and you are here because you are willing to do it again. We won't let you down."
There wasn't much to say. Ragout nodded to Syndulla before jumping down from the rock he had climbed. He didn't need to make speeches or anything of the like. He knew the hearts and minds of the Twi'leks were with them.
"You heard Master Ragout, my people! Let's take back our planet, and free our home once and for all!"
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Dozens of lightyears away, on the capital planet of the Republic, Coruscant, a very common scene was unfolding, but in horrible circumstances.
The body of a clone trooper, shot twice on the chest, was being carried away. Near him were Captain Rex, Commander Fox, and several members of the Coruscant Guard. If Hell Squad was there, they would recognize their dead brother as ARC-Trooper CT-5555, or Fives.
Even if Coruscant wasn't a battleground, a clone dying to smugglers, criminals, and mercenaries was normal. However, Fives had died not by the hands of an outlaw, but Commander Fox's, his own brother.
For Commander Fox and the others, Fives had gone crazy after his best friend, Echo, died, and one of the members of his legion went insane and killed a Jedi. According to Chancellor Palpatine's specialists, it was due to a parasite. Since no one was there to contradict him, his version of the story was accepted. The only one who still had some doubts was Captain Rex, with whom Fives had spoken shortly before he died.
The truth was quickly hidden, and the news about it, suppressed. No one would know what Fives actually discovered, and why he had been deemed a traitor, until it was too late.
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"It's done, my lord."
"Did he manage to tell anyone about the inhibitor chip before he died?"
"No, my lord."
"Good... The end is approaching. Soon, the pathetic Galactic Republic will fall, and a new Empire arises. Kakakaka!"
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News of Fives death only reached Hell Squad months later. As for the circumstances of it, they would never know.
But now, as Fives' body was being taken away, Dageer and his men were worried about something else. Namely, the enormous Separatist army guarding Nabat.
"How are we supposed to get past that?"
Thousands and thousands of droids stood in formation outside the giant city. Differently from living beings, they could just stand in the same position for days, recharging now and again on their small camps.
The clanckers surrounded the entire city, and the abyss around it. There was no doubt that there were even more of them inside. As for the ray bridge, it was deactivated at all times, unless a very well guarded convoy was going through it.
On a hill about seven kilometers away, Hell Squad and Ragout watched through macrobinoculars as the seppies marched around. This time, the Separatist weren't taking any chances.
"We won't be able to repeat the trick from last time, sir. Even if we get past them, I bet they have patrols on the abyss, so we can't slide through it."
"Yeah. Any ideas, general?"
Ragout frowned, then shook his head.
"Nothing. If we had twenty thousand of Caleb's troops with us, maybe we could push through them, and then do as you did last time, and zipline through the abyss."
"But we don't have them. They are all with Neyo and the 91st."
"I know. Uhmm..."
The Togruta looked at the convoy leaving Nabat, and an idea started to get shape in his mind, based on something General Windu once did. But he needed more time to let it grow.
Getting up, he patted his robe to get rid of the dust, and gestured for Hell Squad to follow him.
"Come on, there is nothing more we can do here today. Let's see if our Twi'lek friends have some secret tunnel we can use."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Reis123
Reis123 I know many SW fans hate Fox for killing Fives, and knowing about Order 66 and doing nothing. I don't know if he really did know about it, or if he killed Fives because Palps ordered him to do so, but, for the sake of the novel, we will say he didn't know anything. He saw an apparently crazy Fives and shot him, or at least we will consider that's what happened.
I hope you enjoyed, and please check out Iferes: Slaves of the Gods, my new novel. Only 2 chapters so far, but there is more coming!
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